Chapter 24

A/N Just in case anyone is confused, this chapter takes place right around the time the last chapter ended. I've noticed my chapters are a little GRR Martin-esque in that the chapter dates aren't necessarily in order as I switch between characters. The timeline notes I'm using to keep track are definitely necessary. v

Katara was not worried. Just because her men were taking longer than they had originally estimated they would did not mean they were dead. After arriving in ba Sing Se and conferring with Iroh, Katara had thought they might be perhaps two weeks behind them. When those weeks came and went without so much as a whisper of Zuko or Sokka, she still did not give into doubt. Three more weeks had passed since then and she still refused to admit they were dead. At least publicly.

In the privacy of her own rooms, she felt the weight of her doubts begin to crush her. What could possibly account for their delay besides grievous injury or death? If they had truly walked away from the forest fire surely Zuko would have come straight for her? If something had in fact delayed them, why hadn't they sent word somehow? As Katara lay awake at night, her hands absently rubbing her ever growing belly, she clung desperately to hope.

She was living in the upper ring with Toph and her grandmother as Iroh had requested. Her father had chosen to stay in the lower ring with a couple of his warriors so he would be close if any of his people needed him. Iroh visited with her daily, always bringing a tea he claimed was good for expectant mothers. He sometimes told her stories of Zuko as a small boy, but never mentioned the increasing anxiety they both felt. It was Toph however, that had best been able to keep her occupied, despite their history of conflict. They took daily walks along the walls of the city. So used to constant travel, Katara found the exercise helped ease her mind. Twice a week they would travel to lake Laogai to bend. Blasting around the lake was the only time she truly felt her worry fall away.

Today Toph had decided not to spar but watch instead. Katara was feeling especially volatile and Toph wisely let her have her space. Last night her sleep had been disrupted by visions of death. Her brother, water tribe warriors, fire nation soldiers, and always Zuko. He died a dozen deaths in her nightmare. Her muscles burned as she pushed herself. The small sharp rocks that littered the shallows cut into her heels as she moved through different stances. Eventually she was spent. Chest heaving and head throbbing, Katara staggered up the beach and collapsed beside Toph.

For the last several weeks her dreams had been as vivid and overwhelming as her bending. The more she tried to tell herself they were just her mind dramatizing her deepest fears, the more anxious she felt. It didn't help that she had hardly been able to keep any food down. She was in sorry shape and sick of it.

"I just need to know for sure that he's alive. I could deal with the separation. It's the not knowing if I'm waiting on a ghost that's doing this to me." Well, that and being pregnant. Flopping back against the scrub grass and breathing through a sudden bout of nausea, she closed her eyes and pictured Zuko's face. His golden eyes and dark hair. Even the scar, an indelible part of the man she loved. He wasn't dead, not yet. Sighing, she sat up and looked over at Toph.

"I think I feel better now. Wanna head back?"

"Sure." The younger girl launched herself to her feet and waited for Katara. "You know, I don't think they're dead either. Knowing Sokka, they probably just got side tracked looking for his space sword or something." They walked in silence for a few minutes before Toph chuckled. "You know, I can see what you like about him, Zuko I mean."

Katara rolled her eyes but laughed despite herself. "Hilarious Toph."

"What? Oh." She laughed too. "I guess I walked into that one. Anyway, you know how I see right? Well I can't tell about colors or textures, but I can tell dimensions and Zuko? He has some pretty impressive dimensions." Dimensions? Surely she didn't mean…

"Do you mean what I think you mean? It's that precise?" Toph scoffed.

"Yes to both."

Katara gaped at her retreating figure for a solid 30 seconds before throwing her head back and laughing. She was wiping away tears before she finally stopped and caught up with Toph.

"You've been walking around with that kind of information this whole time?"

"Yep. It's weird sometimes but hey, maybe it will come in handy someday. Sokka isn't much dif… "

Katara held up her hands in alarm. "No! Stop, I don't want to know. Please!" Both women laughed and they continued walking. Realizing something, Katara smiled. "I'm not sure how I feel about you having this personal information about my husband." Toph Shrugged.

"If it will make you feel better, I can tell you all about any partners I ever have." Wrinkling her nose at the thought, Katara laughed again and agreed.

"I'm glad you're here Toph."

"Me too."

When they came to the road, Toph bent them along like she'd done before and they reached the city quickly. When they finally made it home, it was to find General Iroh waiting. He looked even more burdened than usual.

"Uncle, has something happened? Are you alright?"

Katara's pulse raced again at his nod. All three of them went inside and she let Iroh make the tea as he always did. By the time he had finally finished and joined them at the table, Katara was fully panicked. Had they been captured? Killed? Her mind spinning out of control.

"Have you heard something about… About Zuko and my brother?"

Seeming to realize her panic, he shook his head and put a hand in hers. "No my dear, we still have no news about them unfortunately. I apologize, I see by not saying something outright I have upset you." Katara let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and sagged against the table. No news was good news.

"I'm afraid it has to do with our friends to the north. I received word that the entire Fire nation navy has converged on the north pole. The earth kingdom blockade was decimated. A few dozen survivors made it to safety and were the ones to send word. Not only is this a blow to our forces, I'm afraid of the Northern tribes ability to withstand such an attack." Katara thought about this for a moment before surprising everyone by laughing. When it began to grow hysterical, Iroh coughed and asked what she meant by laughing at such a thing. Trying desperately to regain her composure, she answered.

"I'm sorry.. so sorry uncle… it's just that well… they're fire benders and.. the sun won't rise there for months! Will they even wake up?" Maybe the stress she'd been carrying added to the ridiculous situation but she couldn't help dissolving into laughter again. She thought about how Zuko always rose with the sun and imagined him hibernating like a polar bear dog for the entire dark season. Both Toph and Iroh looked surprised but it was Iroh that recovered first, seemingly remembering this vital information.

"Of course, the polar darkness. You are right my dear, my brother has chosen the worst possible time of year for this attack. I had forgotten about this phenomenon, I doubt my brother ever considered." He looked thoughtful for a moment as he stroked his beard and then, " When does this darkness begin?"

Finally having controlled herself, Katara tried to remember specifics. She picked up her tea and took a sip before answering.

"For the last month the sun has stayed lower and lower, by now it hardly rises above the horizon. By the solstice it will get no brighter than twilight at midday. It will last until spring." While Iroh considered this, Katara thought about the last time she had lived through a dark season. In the south it was the summer months that stayed dark. Suddenly she felt rather homesick.

"Perhaps your sister tribe will survive the winter after all. Such sustained darkness will greatly weaken any firebenders and since that includes ranking officers it is possible they will withdraw. Master Pakku had thought to create new defenses for his home when last we spoke. Perhaps he has and the combination will save them." Katara sipped at her tea and hoped he was right. They all three sat quietly until Toph decided to interrupt the silence.

"Who on earth would want to live somewhere it stays dark half the year? I'm blind and even I think that's crazy." Katara drummed her fingers along the side of her teacup and glared at her.

"Why? It's just dark. At least we don't live on volcanoes like the fire nation. It's not a huge deal!" At Iroh's raised brow, she ducked her head and swore.

"I didn't mean to snap at you Toph. Sorry." The earthbender smiled and waved her off. Finishing her tea, Katara stood and excused herself. Iroh stood as well, his hands a gentle weight on her shoulders.

"My nephew is alive, I know he is. They will return to us." They shared a sad smile and he turned to go. "Good evening my dears, I will see you tomorrow." After he had gone, Katara left Toph to her own devices and headed to her gran grans room. She needed the kind of comfort only her grandmother could provide. Knocking on the door, she went in and found her reading by the window.

"Ah Katara, how are you this evening my sweet girl? Have you been able to keep anything down today?" Katara smiled wistfully and walked over to her grandmother and knelt beside her, laying her head in her lap. She closed her eyes as Gran gran ran a hand through her hair and hummed something from home. As she sat beside her Gran gran, she imagined rocking her baby and singing him or her to sleep. Would it be a girl or boy? What did she want it to be, what would Zuko prefer? DId it really matter? If it was a girl she would name her for her mother. Kya. She decided she would let Zuko decide for a boy. What was his uncle's son's name? When Iroh came tomorrow she would ask. She didn't realize she had been crying until gran gran put a hand under her chin and turned her face to look at her. Smiling sadly at her granddaughter, she wiped her tears.

"Oh my sweet girl." Her gran gran leant down and kissed her brow and rested her cheek against her hair. "When your mother died I had to watch your father, my son, suffer a pain I knew too well. It was a terrible feeling to be so helpless to relieve his suffering. Now, watching you wonder every day if you will share that fate I feel that helplessness again. I do not want that for you my dear. I wish there was something I could do to make your burden lighter but alas sometimes life is this way." Katara cried harder as she listened to her gran gran and felt her continue to stroke her hair. "All I can tell you is what I believe to be true. I know in my heart that your brother is still alive. He is my grandson, I would feel it in my bones if he were dead. If he is alive then so is your young man. What is delaying them I cannot say but they will return." She sat up and looked Katara in the eye. "Please do not give into despair Katara." Sniffling and nodding as she wiped at her tears, Katara reached up and wrapped her arms around her gran gran. She let her hold her for a long moment before she stood back and remembered what Iroh had said.

"Gran gran, General Iroh was here earlier. He said that the entire Fire Nation naval fleet has gone north. That's where Pakku is, do you think he will be ok?" She turned to look out the window and was quiet so long Katara wondered if she would answer at all.

"Pakku and I have spent a lifetime apart. This time will feel short by comparison. If those fools think they can storm the walls of the Northern tribe in the dark of winter they have another thing coming."

They laughed together at that and Katara kissed her gran gran goodnight and made her way to her own bed. Hopefully tonight her dreams would be more peaceful.